“With all those guys from yesterday, we’re going to be itchy all day. Don’t scratch too hard, you might hurt your ear.”
It was just transitioning from morning to noon. They had to hurry. Ricass Mountains were no short journey. However, the mercenaries packing their belongings were clearly reluctant to leave.
“The weather is nice; staying a few more days would be great.”
“Everyone’s waiting for us back home. We can’t just enjoy ourselves here while they envy us.”
“I wish we could take on another task here…”
“Eddy, be careful what you wish for. Sometimes, I wish we could do something simple, like being hired for a war or to eliminate someone…”
The chatter ceased abruptly. Were they keeping an ear out for what was happening outside? They all looked towards the window, alert.
Russ, closest to the window, stealthily peeked out, careful not to be seen.
“…It’s them.”
“Great,” Russ muttered under his breath. It must be someone from the Imperial Guard, always trouble. He grumbled as he finished packing his belongings.
“What should we do? Getting caught will only make things worse.”
Before they could hesitate, there was a knock at the door. Eddy moved to answer it, but Rebell stopped him and took the lead, ready to confront and escape if necessary.
“Are the lads still here?”
It was the low, whispering voice of a middle-aged woman. A brief moment of relief surrounded the four men. Opening the door, they saw the innkeeper glancing cautiously towards the stairs.
“The Imperial Guard fellows are here. Seems like they’re looking for trouble over yesterday’s incident…”
“Already rumors here? That was fast.”
“Everyone has been talking about it since dawn yesterday. Hurry out the back door. We can cover for you.”
“But that could put you in an awkward position, ma’am.”
“Been through this more than once or twice. It’s not unusual, especially with the Imperial Guard ransacking inns and boarding houses under the guise of capturing republican remnants.”
It seemed there was a lot of pent-up frustration against the Imperial Guard, evident from the events at the Clover Tavern and now here. Noise from downstairs indicated they were about to come up.
The innkeeper, growing anxious, hurriedly gestured towards the door. However, the mercenary group exchanged light smiles and calmly continued packing. Lailo tied his backpack tightly with a meaningful smile.
“Ma’am, we’ve faced this kind of treatment more than once or twice.”
“Running away doesn’t sit right with our mercenary code. We have our pride.”
“But this time, it’s the Imperial Royal Guard. Things have gotten messy.”
Rebell spat out his words as if they were commands ingrained in his long mercenary life.
In such situations, always assume the worst and act accordingly. Vague positive thoughts only loosen the body and cloud judgment.
What pretext could they use for last night’s incident? Banishment would be lucky. Worse, they could end up imprisoned by the royal court.
‘Or perhaps…’
Rebell thought of the woman he encountered at the tavern. If his hunch was correct, the Imperial Guard’s arrival might also be part of her plan.
Rebell allowed himself a tiny sliver of hope, unusual for him, who always expected the worst. A sweet fantasy, just this once, seemed permissible.
He tossed his packed belongings to Lailo and headed to the corridor.
“I’ll go down first. If there’s any sign of arrest or detention, everyone escape through the back door.”
“Shouldn’t I…”
Before anyone could stop him, Rebell headed downstairs. The murmuring noise grew louder.
In the lobby, stiffened inn employees and onlookers were present. Rebell, amidst the tense atmosphere, was the only one appearing calm.
“You’re finally here.”
Rebell’s eyes met those of Calum, standing in the lobby. He immediately recognized Calum as part of the Imperial Guard.
The grey hair speckled with white, the crisply tailored uniform, and the solid, upstanding presence all spoke of a long military career.
His deep grey eyes, touching on middle age, looked firm but not foolishly obstinate.
Calum stood unflusteredly, watching Rebell descend to the first floor.
“Judging by the uniform, you must be the superior of those we faced yesterday. What brings you here?”
“Are you the leader?”
“That’s right.”
Calum’s eyebrows twitched slightly at Rebell’s tone, but he relayed Emperor Claudius’s message without fuss.
“His Majesty the Emperor is seeking the Ricass Mercenary Group.”
Hearing his words, a rare disturbance flickered in Rebell’s blue eyes. The small hope he had been holding onto suddenly gleamed.
Top Celebrity Younger Brother Bears Her Child (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: Forced to live stream romance with a top celebrity in a female-dominant world.
Yan Jin transmigrated into a brothel, with a fellow transmigrated junior beside her.
Hearing the obscene words coming from outside, the unfortunate junior covered his ears tightly, his cheeks flushed red, and whispered to comfort her, “Don’t worry, I will definitely help you escape.”
“Don’t worry, I will definitely defend your chastity.” Yan Jin looked at the flawless and delicate features of the unfortunate junior and gently comforted, “Because we have transmigrated into a female-dominant world.”
※※※
Top celebrity Yu Shu suddenly fell into a coma during a concert.
Research scientist Yan Jin fainted in the lab after working overtime.
Two people with no connection were rushed to the same hospital.
Three days later, neither of them had woken up.
Suddenly, the entire nation discovered that a live streaming app had been forcibly installed on their phones.
Upon opening it, they heard the two discussing how to escape from the brothel.
The entire internet was in an uproar.
After the two successfully escaped from the brothel, Yu Shu’s fan group rushed to make a banner and sent it to the hospital overnight.
“Big sister bravely took action to defend the chastity of our idol!”
※※※
When Yu Shu was diagnosed with pregnancy, Yan Jin stared at his belly for a long time.
Covering his stomach, he muttered gloomily, “If you don’t like it, I’ll go get an abortion.”
“It’s not that I don’t like it.” Yan Jin hugged Yu Shu and said softly, “I just feel like I’m not human.”
Yu Shu comforted Yan Jin, “I was already an adult when we got together.”
Yan Jin hesitated, “But you won’t be of legal marriageable age even after giving birth to the child.”
At the same time, a flood of bullet comments appeared in the live streaming room that the two couldn’t see.
[Although it’s inappropriate, I also want a young and handsome boyfriend to have my child.]
①Male pregnancy (highlighted)
The female lead is five years older than the male lead, and the male lead is already an adult when he appears.
